Flying doctor

I'm a student pilot in Australia and have just started having some dental work done. The doctor is also giving me amoxicillin as we go, because I have an artificial hip and apparently infection can cause a problem. How does this affect my flying?

Dr Jules Eden replies: I cannot see why taking amoxicillin should affect your ability to fly, whether as a passenger or pilot. If you have bad teeth problems, then there are rare circumstances where air trapped in a cavity expands on ascent. If this can get out, then it is very painful, but a good dentist shouldn't leave you in this state. Amoxicillin is a simple antibiotic, and there are no side effects that would hinder you at the controls. As you haven't had an allergic reaction so far, then you are free to fly.

Last year my partner and myself went to Cephallonia in Greece, where, in spite of all the usual protection from mosquitoes bites - ie using lotions and a plug-in source of protection and keeping covered, my partner was severely bitten. On returning home, he was taken ill with a severe viral infection, the symptoms of which were a severe headache, dizziness, nausea and, on one occasion, collapsing with the headache. He was, of course, seen by our GP who diagnosed a virus. When this continued into a second week with the headache improving slightly, the GP felt it could have been caused by the mosquitoes. What else can my partner take or use to prevent being bitten in such a severe way again? We are returning to Cephallonia this year and my partner is dreading the trip as he was so badly bitten and felt so unwell as a result of this.

There are several ways of going about this. I have mentioned the use of Vitamin B before. A letter from a pharmacist, Dermot Ball, has also shed good light on specifically which one. He says: 'It's the thiamine that has the effect, and you probably need 25-50mg daily (Benerva tablets, which are available at all good chemists) to get a good effect, as Vitamin B capsules only tend to contain 1-5mg. thiamine.' Another trick to consider is that garlic if eaten and sweated in hot climates has repellent effects on the mosquitoes. Apparently, it's used by soldiers on jungle training. There are many mosquito sprays on the market: some contain DEET, a proven repellent, some are homeopathic and also work well. I do suggest he finds one that works for him, or even buy the brand used by the local people. Long sleeved shirts, long trousers, mosquito coils, electric zappers are also useful methods for preventing one being severely bitten.

· If you have any questions you want to ask Dr Jules Eden, email travel.doctor@guardian.co.uk, or write to The Flying Doctor, The Guardian, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R, 3ER.